GAME
OF THE
DAY
DomiNations
Empire builder & battle game
Alexander the Great charges into battle – and he’s fighting alongside Ronin warriors, with air support from a World War II–era zeppelin.
Just another day in DomiNations, a build-and-battle game where you pit historical figures against one another in thrilling skirmishes.
When you begin, your empire is nothing more than a measly field and two ramshackle huts. Your goal: to populate it with warriors and replace the overgrown grass with airstrips, cathedrals, garrisons and oil refineries. While your base will eventually resemble the strongholds you might recognise from other mobile strategy games, the upgrades you make along the way ensure your nation is an original.
Everything in DomiNations is informed by history, from the architecture to the units in your militia. Early in your playthrough, you’re asked to choose from one of eight factions, each equipped with a unique soldier and power. Romans might be able to build a massive army, but the French are faster at training their military. The Chinese Chu-Ko-Nu wielders shoot devastatingly fast crossbows; British longbowmen have a longer range.
Whether your army is raiding other players’ bases or you’re defending your base from persistent invaders, your nation’s powers will help you survive a constant stream of battles. Between fights you’ll complete tasks like erecting walls and upgrading your Town Centre – infrastructure decisions that can have lasting consequences for your empire.
As you progress, you’ll run into a parade of historical figures. Cleopatra makes an appearance; Joan of Arc too. To give your country a permanent boost, you can craft artifacts like Alexander’s Sword or Jan Sobieski's Hussar Wings and display them in a museum. Showing off Plato’s Vase just feels right when you’re playing as the Greeks.